Mountain Ridge Top Garden - West Meadow and Woods

Google Earth image of an aerial view of the property — Winter
Google Earth image of the Westerm meadow & Woods Garden age: 22 years Randy Harter CC BY 4.0

Description

Name: Mountain Ridge Top Garden - West Meadow & Woods

Open to the public: No

County: Buncombe

USDA Hardiness Zone: 6b (2023)

Extension Demonstration Garden? No

Approximate year the garden/landscape was established: Development began in 2013

What to look for: The West Meadow & Woods of the Mountain Ridge Top Garden is found in the mountainous region of Buncombe County NC. This section of the property was acquired 17 years after the original home site was acquired, 14 years after home construction was completed, and 10 years after the acquisition of the North Woods. Approximately half of this 0.47 acre parcel was woods and the other half pasture. Since acquiring this parcel, the owners have allowed the pasture portion to begin reverting back to woodlands. A labyrinthine path of connected ellipses was created to provide access to the pasture portion and to divide it into several sections or large beds to be developed into garden space over time. Some trees were planted early on, including beeches, hornbeam, several deciduous magnolias, a Franklinia tree, birch, horse chestnut, Clerodendrum (glorybower tree), chalk maple, & others. By now, most of the trees in the former pasture are volunteers, mostly oaks, with some black gum, tulip poplar, persimmon, hickory, dogwoods, pear, cherry, and sourwood. 'Nellie R. Stevens' hollies were planted along the North & West boundaries to provide a privacy screen in time. Inkberry hollies were planted around specimen trees (beeches & hornbeam) in each of three elliptical beds. Other shrubs including hydrangeas, fothergillas, viburnum, clethras, burning bush, sweetshrub, & others were planted throughout the meadow beds. Lastly, the ground layer is under development. Hundreds of daffodil bulbs have been planted in each of the various bed, often around specimen trees, as well as many daylilies, iris & some hostas.

The West Woods lies to the South of the meadow and a mirror image of elliptical paths was created through these woods. The woods are predominantly oak but also include, ash, hickory, tulip poplar, sourwood, black gum, white pine, & hemlock. Native shrubs found here include flame azalea, mountain laurel & American holly.

Horticulture: The land slopes off to the West from the ridge top dropping about 25 feet in elevation with an average slope of about 23%. The soil is loamy with good drainage, but rocks often lie below the surface, especially near the ridge top. Most plants were installed as small, container-grown nursery stock. The property has no irrigation system, so newly planted trees and shrubs are watered by hand. Fortunately, deer have only been sited on the property on a couple of occasions, but squirrels, rabbits, groundhogs, turkeys and bears are not uncommon in the garden.